Ssebatta wins Operation Wealth Creation Kadongo Kamu competition

Ssebatta receiving his cheque from Speaker Rebecca Kadaga. Photos by Eddie Ssejjoba

Veteran singer ‘Lord' Fred Ssebatta has been declared winner of the Operation Wealth Creation (OWC) Kadongo-Kamu competition after beating 24 other finalists to the sh50m fortune.

Ssebatta was declared winner by the Speaker of Parliament, Rebecca Kadaga on Saturday after a long wait and tense moments among the 25 finalists who complained of the delay to announce winners.

The competition was launched in May this year by Gen. Salim Saleh, chief co-ordinator of OWC and Senior Presidential advisor on security matters, but  he did not attend the finals.

Silvester Busuulwa performs on stage for his OWC song. He came out third overall

Ssebatta's song, Zibula-Atudde (It takes laziness to be poor) was picked as the favourite by a panel of judges for containing the best message towards the OWC theme of mobilising people to embrace wealth creation through agriculture and other jobs to fight poverty.

The song, according to Ssebatta, was produced by singer David Lutalo, who he said spent much time improving it to ensure it won the prize.

Walukagga and Kayihura   

Vincent Ssegawa who came second received a dummy cheque of sh25m and was followed by Silvester Busuullwa who won sh15m. Mathias Walukagga came fourth and won himself sh10m.  

 The rest of the finalists were promised a token of sh500,000 for their participation and diner.  

The Inspector General of Police, Gen. Kale Kayihura picked on Walukagga's earlier song, Police n'omuntu wa bulijjo (The Police and its relationship with the ordinary people), which he said he would use to mobilise communities to fight crime.

He also asked other musicians to compose for him songs about the ‘Fika Salaama', a slogan used in sensitizing motorists to avoid over-speeding and reckless driving on highways to end the rampant road carnage. 

The fans

Other finalists included Mariam Namubiru, Billy Katumba alias Kasodde,  Matia Luyima, Ibra Fire, Daddy Isaac,  Junior Jemba, Willy Mukaabya, Baby Reagan, Scovia Birungi,  Fred Baingana,  Engineer Mark, Alice Nassimbwa, Fred Ssebaale. Geoffrey Sembite, Ssalongo Dan Mugula, Joshua Kayondo, Amir Ssengendo, Mzeei Mayambala Sekasi, Kennedy Muwanguzi "Omuzibe"  Sereste Kasule and Gold Ki-Matono Opeto.  

Several other musicians outside the competition performed to the crowds, including Radio and Weasel, Winne Nwagi, Fiina Masanyalaze, Ykee Bender, Fik Fameica, among others.